Determining corrective actions based upon broadcast of telematics data

Abstract

A mobile device configured to receive telematics data from another vehicle when the mobile device is traveling in a moving vehicle and take corrective action when a travel event exists may be provided. The mobile device may receive telematics data associated with an originating vehicle, analyze the telematics data, and determine or identify that a travel event associated with the originating vehicle exists and, when the travel event is determined to exist, determine whether the travel event is relevant to the moving vehicle or a route that the moving vehicle is presently traveling, and if so, direct corrective action such that safer vehicle travel for the moving vehicle is facilitated based upon the telematics data that is collected by the originating vehicle. An insurance provider may collect an insured's usage of the vehicle safety functionality to calculate, update, and/or adjust insurance premiums, rates, discounts, points, or programs.

What is claimed: 
     
       1. A destination computing device associated with a destination vehicle or a destination driver, comprising:
 a communication unit configured to receive a telematics-related message, the telematics-related message being transmitted from an originating computing device based upon telematics data that is generated by one or more sensors of the originating computing device, the telematics data being indicative of acceleration, braking, cornering, and a location of the originating vehicle, and the telematics-related message indicates a travel event at a location of the originating computing device based upon the telematics data; 
 one or more processors configured to determine that the travel event is relevant to the destination vehicle when a location of the originating vehicle, as determined from the received telematics-related message, is within a threshold distance of a current location of the destination computing device, and to direct at least one corrective action when the travel event is relevant to the destination vehicle, the at least one corrective action including at least one of providing a graphical user interface (GUI) to alert the destination driver or at least one other corrective action that affects driving of the destination vehicle; and 
 a display configured to at least one of
 (i) provide the GUI, the GUI including a screen showing
 (a) an indication of a description of the travel event, the indication of the description of the travel event including at least one of a text indication of the description or a graphical indication of the description, and 
 (b) an indication of the location of the originating computing device, the indication of the location of the originating computing device including at least one of a text indication of the location, a graphical indication of the location, or a map indicating the location, or 
 
 (ii) present insurance policy pricing adjustment information associated with the destination driver that is based upon a destination driver risk due to the identified travel event, so as to promote or reward risk averse behavior and safer driving. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The destination computing device of  claim 1 , wherein the telematics-related message is transmitted from the originating computing device upon the originating computing device detecting the travel event via an analysis of the telematics data. 
     
     
       3. The destination computing device of  claim 2 , wherein the travel event is detected by the originating computing device when the speed of the originating computing device, as indicated by the telematics data, is less than a posted speed limit at a location of the originating computing device. 
     
     
       4. The destination computing device of  claim 1 , wherein the communication unit is further configured to periodically listen for the telematics-related message in accordance with an initial frequency and, upon receiving the telematics-related message, to modify the initial frequency to an increased frequency. 
     
     
       5. The destination computing device of  claim 1 , wherein the telematics data includes data regarding an operation of the originating vehicle that is obtained via the originating computing device communicating with one or more vehicle sensors that are integrated as part of the originating vehicle. 
     
     
       6. The destination computing device of  claim 1 , wherein the travel event is indicative of one or more of abnormal traffic conditions, congestion, road construction, and weather conditions. 
     
     
       7. The destination computing device of  claim 1 , wherein the telematics data is indicative of one or more of Global Positioning System (GPS) speed, lane information associated with the originating vehicle, time, turning associated with the originating vehicle, battery level associated with the originating computing device, and telephone usage information associated the originating computing device. 
     
     
       8. A smart vehicle control system associated with a destination vehicle or a destination driver, the smart vehicle control system comprising:
 a communication unit configured to receive a telematics-related message, the telematics-related message being transmitted from an originating computing device based upon telematics data that is generated by one or more sensors of the originating computing device, the telematics data being indicative of acceleration, braking, cornering, and a location of the originating vehicle, and the telematics-related message indicates a travel event at a location of the originating computing device based upon the telematics data; 
 a smart vehicle controller configured to determine that the travel event is relevant to the destination vehicle when a location of the originating vehicle, as determined from the received telematics-related message, is within a threshold distance of a current location of the destination computing device, and to direct at least one corrective action when the travel event is relevant to the destination vehicle, the at least one corrective action including at least one of providing a graphical user interface (GUI) to alert the destination driver or at least one other corrective action that affects driving of the destination vehicle; and 
 a display configured to at least one of
 (i) provide the GUI, the GUI including a screen showing
 (a) an indication of a description of the travel event, the indication of the description of the travel event including at least one of a text indication of the description or a graphical indication of the description, and 
 (b) an indication of the location of the originating computing device, the indication of the location of the originating computing device including at least one of a text indication of the location, a graphical indication of the location, or a map indicating the location, or 
 
 (ii) present insurance policy pricing adjustment information associated with the destination driver that is based upon a destination driver risk due to the identified travel event, so as to promote or reward risk averse behavior and safer driving. 
 
 
     
     
       9. The smart vehicle control system of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a driving control system configured to direct the at least one corrective action by autonomously re-routing the destination vehicle to avoid the travel event. 
 
     
     
       10. The smart vehicle control system  8 , wherein the telematics-related message is transmitted upon the originating computing device detecting the travel event when the speed of the originating computing device, as indicated by the telematics data, is less than a posted speed limit at a location of the originating computing device. 
     
     
       11. The smart vehicle control system of  claim 8 , wherein the communication unit is further configured to periodically listen for the telematics-related message in accordance with an initial frequency and, upon receiving the telematics-related message, to modify the initial frequency to an increased frequency. 
     
     
       12. The smart vehicle control system  8 , wherein the telematics data includes data regarding an operation of the originating vehicle that is obtained via the originating computing device communicating with one or more vehicle sensors that are integrated as part of the originating vehicle. 
     
     
       13. The smart vehicle control system  8 , wherein the travel event is indicative of one or more of abnormal traffic conditions, congestion, road construction, and weather conditions. 
     
     
       14. The smart vehicle control system  8 , wherein the telematics data is indicative of one or more of Global Positioning System (GPS) speed, lane information associated with the originating vehicle, time, turning associated with the originating vehicle, battery level associated with the originating computing device, and telephone usage information associated the originating computing device. 
     
     
       15. A computer-implemented method, comprising:
 receiving, via a destination computing device associated with a destination vehicle and a destination driver, a telematics-related message, the telematics-related message being transmitted from an originating computing device based upon telematics data that is generated by one or more sensors of the originating computing device, the telematics data being indicative of acceleration, braking, cornering, and a location of the originating vehicle, and the telematics-related message indicates a travel event at a location of the originating computing device based upon the telematics data; 
 determining, via the destination computing device, that the travel event is relevant to the destination vehicle when a location of the originating vehicle, as determined from the received telematics-related message, is within a threshold distance of a current location of the destination computing device; and 
 when the travel event is relevant to the destination vehicle,
 (1) at least one of:
 (i) providing, via the destination computing device, a graphical user interface (GUI) to alert the destination driver, the GUI including a display of:
 (a) an indication of a description of the travel event, the indication of the description of the travel event including at least one of a text indication of the description or a graphical indication of the description, and 
 (b) an indication of the location of the originating computing device, the indication of the location of the originating computing device including at least one of a text indication of the location, a graphical indication of the location, or a map indicating the location, or 
 
 (ii) taking at least one other corrective action, via the destination computing device, to affect driving of the destination vehicle, and 
 
 (2) displaying, via the destination computing device, insurance policy pricing adjustment information associated with the destination driver that is based upon a destination driver risk due to the identified travel event, so as to promote or reward risk averse behavior and safer driving. 
 
 
     
     
       16. The computer-implemented method of  claim 15 , wherein the telematics-related message is transmitted from the originating computing device upon the originating computing device detecting the travel event via an analysis of the telematics data. 
     
     
       17. The computer-implemented method of  claim 16 , wherein the travel event is detected by the originating computing device when the speed of the originating computing device, as indicated by the telematics data, is less than a posted speed limit at a location of the originating computing device. 
     
     
       18. The computer-implemented method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 periodically listening, via the destination computing device, for the telematics-related message in accordance with an initial frequency; and 
 upon receiving the telematics-related message, modifying, via the destination computing device, the initial frequency to an increased frequency. 
 
     
     
       19. The computer-implemented method of  claim 15 , wherein the telematics data includes data regarding an operation of the originating vehicle that is obtained via the originating computing device communicating with one or more vehicle sensors that are integrated as part of the originating vehicle. 
     
     
       20. The computer-implemented method of  claim 15 , wherein the telematics data indicates (i) one or more of GPS speed, lane information associated with the originating vehicle, time, turning associated with the originating vehicle, battery level associated with the originating computing device, and telephone usage information associated the originating computing device, and (ii) that the originating vehicle is experiencing one or more of high traffic conditions, congestion, road construction, and extreme weather conditions.